Positional (Postural) Strangulation
Definition
Compression of the neck caused by the weight of the body or an external object constraining the airway or neck vessels without direct gripping. Seen in restraint deaths and some vehicular fatalities.
- Mechanism
- Body weight or object compresses the neck
- Direct gripping
- Not present
- Typical contexts
- Restraint deaths, some vehicular fatalities
Common questions
How does positional strangulation differ from manual strangulation?+
Manual strangulation involves direct hand gripping of the neck, while positional or postural strangulation results from sustained compression by body weight or an object, without a hand or ligature directly applying the force.
Why can positional strangulation be hard to identify at autopsy?+
Because there is no gripping hand or ligature, the external neck findings can be subtler than in manual or ligature strangulation, so the scene position and restraint circumstances often carry as much weight as the autopsy findings.
Related terms
- Carotid Artery Dissection
- A tear in the inner wall of the carotid artery caused by stretching or compression during strangulation. Can produce stroke hours to...
- Ligature Strangulation
- Compression by a cord, belt, wire, or similar item looped around the neck. The ligature mark shows the width and pattern of...
- Manual Strangulation
- Compression of the neck by one or both hands. The most common type in intimate-partner violence. Creates asymmetric, fingertip-sized contusions and may...
- Petechiae
- Pinpoint haemorrhages above the level of venous compression. They develop when venous outflow is blocked while arterial inflow continues, raising capillary pressure...
- Strangulation Documentation Form
- A structured clinical tool, developed originally by the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, that systematically prompts recording of mechanism, symptoms, and physical...